A comparative analysis of the policies to start teaching English language in primary schools around the world and the position of English today

Abstract

The English language was shaped in the Old English, Middle English and Modern English periods and transformed into the English today. It has gone beyond being a language of a particular nation and has become a common communication tool that responds to the communication needs of individuals around the world with different mother tongues and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, in relevant literature English language is described with different labels such as EFL, ESL, WE, ELF, EIL and EIcL and countries that use English in different ways are classified as inner, outer and expanding circle countries. The aim of this study is to make a comparative analysis of the grades in which English language is first started to be taught in primary level public schools in outer and expanding circle countries around the world. Within the scope of this study, it was stated that in most of the outer and expanding circle countries around the world, English education started from the first or second grade in public schools, and in Turkey, English education was given in the following classes starting from the second grade of primary school. It has been stated that English education is given importance because it is thought that the English education given in Turkey will help Turkish citizens use the common language effectively to communicate with the citizens of other countries, and thus enable the country to reach an advanced level in political, scientific, military, economic and social fields.